"I'm sorry but...no." my mom sighed. Oh c'mon! Nothing will ever make her allow me to go to Italy. I've tried so hard, but nothing works. Suddenly...
"No, I will not NOT let you visit your dearest friend. Hun, Italy is a wonderful country, and this is a big opportunity! Why will I say no? I think you are ready, and besides, I think you deserve it." she said. Yehey!! I was very happy, but a thought came passed my mind.
"WAIT! How about the library? Who'll replace me while I'm gone? And what about Briar? I also need to--"I said. My mom put her hand on my shoulder, smiled then winked. And I knew that I don't have to worry. Wow. Lexi and my mom always get me. I'm very thankful to have them.
So...what happened next? Mr. President booked me a flight to Italy for tomorrow and when I arrived there, Lexi was waiting for me at the airport.
"Ali! I missed you so much. Congrats with the money. Ms. Delilah told me EVERYTHING." she greeted. "Thanks. I missed you so much too!" I replied.
I wasn't expecting Lexi to bring her car. It was VERY luxurious.
"Whoa. You rented that?" I asked. "Nope. I bought it." she replied as we got in. Sweet! We drove on the roads, and the view was so beautiful. It's nice to get away from the city. Get fresh air, travel, you know?
After sometime, we arrived at a beautiful Italian house. It was big.
"Hello, girls. Welcome to our Villa Concetta. This is my sister's house where my sister and I live. Please, make yourself at home." he said, as he gave us two air kisses.
"Grazie, signor presidente, per avermi permesso di visitare il mio più caro amico." I answered. Lexi smiled.
"Immagino lei abbia studiato prima del volo. Ma sì, grazie signor Damson. Questa è una meravigliosa opportunità ed esperienza." she said. Mr. Damson laughed.
"Wow, you two are full of surprises. Shall we go inside, le signore?" he asked. "Infatti, signore." we answered.
The inside of the house was bellissima. The ceiling of the hall has "lampadari in cristallo" and the little tables has "vasi inestimabili".
Mr. Damson led us to a big room. "Girls, this is the 'cucina', and the 'sala da pranzo' ." He said as he showed us the room. Then, he led us to a brown-themed room. It was warm in the room. "And this is the 'bagno'. There's the 'vasca da bagno', and the 'gabinetto'." He showed us the room.
Next, he said he'll show us where we can sleep for tonight. No offense, but I wasn't expecting that we were going to sleep here in his house. I mean, it was a bit embarrassing.
But after I saw our where we were going to sleep tonight, I was so amazed at the theme. It wasn't just an ordinary bedroom, it was a beautiful garden on a balcony and a modern cottage! Inside the cottage, was two white cotton bed, a floral lamp, some fairy lights, a small fridge, a small drawer, and a big circle shaped window on the ceiling for you know, star gazing or meteor sighting. We thanked him a little later.
"No problem, girls. I really want to see people spending some time with their friends and I know that you are true friends. You make me remember my childhood friend, Juan, who made me a popular guy in our school, while I became real selfish. I really owe all of this to him. He became my friend, my company, my brother throughout life. But unfortunately, he died on a car accident right the after graduation day when we fought about a small thing that broke our friendship. He was so mad, he drove on his car late at night to cool his head, but he drank way too much, the next day, he was found dead on his car near a tree. At first, I was mad at him and thought that he deserved it, but then, I realized that he was there for me the whole school days: elementary, high school, college, and graduation day. He made me feel loved, a feeling my parents can't give. So, I want you to stay best friends while you still live."
After he said that, I became suddenly thoughtful. When Lexi came to my life, everything changed. If she hadn't made me sing at the first day of school, it would have been hard and SUPER PALPITATING while waiting for the results if I made the club, and if she didn't fall to her knees while they were dancing, I wouldn't have the choice to help her and accept a club as a gift from the principal, and if the club wasn't built, we wouldn't have a choice to make our own channel on YouTube and if she hadn't posted it on RYM Studios, we wouldn't have won a tie with Stephanie, and if she didn't told our story about parting away to the president of the school, I wouldn't have been here! And all of this, I just realized it now. Well, before, of course, when he told us the story cause I'm writing in the future. I'm a singer now.
"Just tell me if you are ready to go city tour. Andrea's got a week break from business and she wants to show you the city." He told us, as he carried our big suitcases and placed them on the grass floor. I'm pretty sure it's a fake grass but it feels a bit...real.
After he left, I looked at Lexi, who jumped on his back on the bed, and looked at her phone. I was sooo worried, that what if one day, I become selfish too? I would regret everything I've done to her if that happens.
"Hey, Lexi. Umm...whatcha think we go on a--"
"Tour? Yeah I'm up for it! Ms. Andrea's going to be here soon. Lemme just-"
"No, I mean...maybe just us?" I said as she looked at me confusingly. "Why? I don't know that much about Italy, though my mom works here." she shrugged. "Well, because..."
"I know why. You want to repay me because you think you're selfish, accepting and doing nothing in return for me, and you got that idea from Mr. Damson's story." She said, confident and sure that was my reason. "Well, yes. Kinda, but yes. I just feel like I'm doing nothing, just being selfish."
"No you are not. The Christmas switch was a wonderful time. I finally got to enjoy an occasion with a happy family and especially with you. That was big enough, okay?" She smiled. "But I haven't repaid you for this trip." I said, frowning. "Pfft. C'mon, finish you unpacking." She said, and I blushed, being too sensitive. But she was right. Almost right, though. After we unpacked our bags and put them in their appropriate places where they should be, we went at the backyard where there was an outdoor pool, two chaise lounges, an outdoor sofa, two hammocks, and a table with summer desserts like chocolate fudge sundaes, creamy mango and strawberry with chocolate chips smoothie, cold blueberry cheesecake flavored milk tea (didn't know there was a flavor of milk tea like that), and some waffle-berry cake and some chocolate, mango, apple, strawberry, rocky road, and vanilla ice cream flavors. Mmm. Yummy! But Lexi was already drinking mango smoothie.
"Hey! We don't know if we're allowed to drink those!" I said as she gulped everything to her mouth to prevent me from taking the smoothie away.
"Ugh! Brain Freeze!!" She screamed, and Mr. Damson grabbed a green tea and I laughed. "So much for eating those." I said and chuckled some more. She got annoyed and embarrassed at the same time, but I knew she knows I was just jokin' around.
After unpacking, we went outside the balcony, and we saw Mr. And Ms. Damson talking to each other.
"Oh, hello girls! Are you ready for a beautiful tour around Sorrento? Cause I'm ready!" She said with a smile. I held Lexi's hand tightly, saying that I don't want to reply because I don't know how to say I'm too shy. So, she replied. "Umm...yeah, sure! Though, I just want to ask. Can we ride on your campervan? Al would really love to enjoy that, since she had never been on one before." She said and I blushed. "You're not supposed to say that. We're not sure they have a campervan!" I whispered, but maybe too loudly.
"Don't worry, we still got ol' Jenny." Ms. Andrea showed us the pool, then tapped on her phone.
There was loud creaking noise, then suddenly, the water began to drain. When the water was gone, the pool started going down and there was a big metal plate with a campervan rising as it turn around, like it was showing off itself. When the creaking noise was done, the metal plate transformed into the normal wooden floor and Lexi and I stared at it in awe! I was going to touch the van when Lexi fainted.
"Don't worry about her. She also fainted when we showed her ol' Jenny for the first time." She smiled and I apologized for her. Luckily, Lexi stood up a little later, and Ms. Andrea, Lexi, and I went inside the campervan. Mr. Damson waved goodbye as we left and and we also waved and said goodbye to him.
Ready, get set...ITALY!!!!